Idina was born on Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Helene, is a therapist, and her father, Stuart Mentzel, worked as a pajama salesman. She was raised in Syosset, New York, with her younger sister Cara, and later changed the spelling of her last name (Mentzel) because of constant mispronunciation.
When Menzel was 15 years old, her parents divorced and she began working as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer. A job she continued throughout her time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Drama at NYU.
In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional theater job and her Broadway debut. Rent opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The show moved to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre due to its popularity. For her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original cast, Menzel received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in the musical was on July 1, 1997.
Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo album entitled "Still I Can't Be Still" on "Hollywood Records," Menzel also originated the role of Dorothy in Summer of ’42 at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, starred as Sheila in the New York City Center Encores! production of Hair, and appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Kate in the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her other off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.
In 2003, Menzel starred with actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway in Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman loosely based upon the popular 1995 Gregory Maguire novel. Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. On her third-to-last performance of Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. The injury prevented her from performing in the January 9 show. Menzel did, however, make a special out-of-costume appearance at that performance, performed her final song, and received a 5 minute long standing ovation. Menzel was replaced by Elphaba standby Shoshana Bean.
Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in the Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, a Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She reprised her Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked when it opened at London's Apollo Victoria Theater on September 7, 2006. During the run, she joined the ranks of highest paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week. Menzel finished her West End run on December 30, 2006. She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.
Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban.
In 2008, Menzel headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical Nero from July 1–11. She performed the role of Nero’s mistress Poppea.
Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. As a singer Menzel is known for her wide vocal range, and her use of the 'belt' technique.
Menzel performed at the 1998 Lilith Fair summer concert festival and continues to write and perform original music. She has toured extensively and frequently performs in various venues throughout New York City. She produced and released her debut album, Still I Can’t Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the album, "Minuet," made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart at #48 in October 1998.
Her second album, Here, was released independently by Zel Records in 2004. Menzel has contributed to soundtracks, including those for the film The Other Sister and the ABC television dramedy Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she appeared on the Beowulf soundtrack singing the end credits song, "A Hero Comes Home." Also in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice lead her to be asked to accompany the baritone British X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts on his debut album, duetting on the song "What If."
Her third solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. The CD includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave," the title track "I Stand," and a song released on EP, "Gorgeous." The album debuted at #58 in the Billboard 200 making it the first solo album by Menzel to make the charts. There are five versions of this album: the original version, the special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noble edition, and the Borders edition.
On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off her "I Stand" tour in support of her new album.
On November 11, 2008, Menzel released a new single in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The single is entitled "Hope" and all proceeds go to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
On November 27, 2008, Menzel performed "I Stand" on the M&M Candies float as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On December 10, 2009, it was confirmed that Menzel was in negotiations to have a recurring role on Glee. In Spring 2010, Menzel began playing the role of Shelby Corcoran, the coach of the opposing Glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. She was also revealed as Rachel Berry's biological mother.
When asked about 'Defying Gravity' being sung on Glee, Idina was asked about her musical future. She said that the long-rumored movie version of 'Wicked' would probably not be green-lit until there's a dip in its Broadway grosses.
Idina also said that she had met with Andrew Lloyd Webber about taking the role of Betty Schaefer in his much delayed Sunset Boulevard film adaptation. As of February 2010, it is widely believed that Idina is no longer part of Sunset Boulevard as she wanted the role enlarged, to the refusal of Lloyd-Webber.
Menzel married actor Taye Diggs, her co-star from the original Broadway production of Rent, on January 11, 2003 after 7 years of dating. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, whom they call their "Jazz Cats" because they were named after famous jazz performers. On December 6, 2004, it was reported by the New York Post that Menzel and Diggs were threatened with harm in a series of letters because of their interracial marriage. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009.
Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. Other Honorary Chairs for the evening's charity event included Sir Elton John CBE, Patti LuPone, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Rivers and Dame Robin Strasser.
Dream Girl
Idina Menzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not fair, it's not right
All that hope and that pride
It's a waste, it's a lie
All you want is to breath
Little girls should run free
But your corset's too tight
And your heels are too high
This treasure you found, bury it
The only way out, marry it
That shadow of doubt, carry it
Carry it down to your grave, oh
The world doesn't need another dream girl
The world doesn't need another dream girl
You're too dumb, you're too young
Full of heart, so naive
You're so blind, you're so green
You'll give up, just like me, oh
The wings are ornamental
They have no intention of letting you fly
Don't be sentimental, some legends are born in the wrong time
Treasure you found (bury it)
The only way out (marry it)
That shadow of doubt (carry it)
Carry it down to your grave
(Bury it)
(Marry it)
(Carry it)
Carry it down to your grave (bury it)
Your grave, your grave (marry it, carry it)
(Oh-oh)
(Go bury it) bury it
(Marry it) I marry it
(Carry it) carry it
No, no, no, no, (the world doesn't need another dream girl)
(Go bury it) bury it
(Marry it) I marry it
(Carry it) carry it
Oh (so bury it, marry it, carry it, carry it)
(Carry it down to your grave, your grave, your grave)
The world doesn't need another dream girl
The song "Dream Girl" performed by Idina Menzel and the Cinderella cast speaks about the struggles and disappointments that come with being a woman in a patriarchal society. It highlights the fact that it is difficult for women to achieve true equality and live their dreams. The song starts off by stating that life is unfair and not right. The hope and pride that women have is a lie, and their desires are never fully met. Women are constrained by societal norms - they must be pretty, wear tight corsets, and heels that are too high. However, the song emphasizes that women should be free to run and breathe just like little girls.
The chorus emphasizes the point that the world doesn't need another dream girl. Women are often deemed as "too dumb, too young" or "so blind, so green," which means that they are naive and have a lack of experience in dealing with the harsh realities of life. The idea of wings being ornamental with no real intention of letting women fly is also highlighted. Essentially, the song tries to explain how societal norms and expectations make it difficult for women to achieve their dreams, and the only way to succeed is by burying them, marrying the situation, or carrying the doubt down to their grave.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care, this is life
I am indifferent because this is the reality of life.
It's not fair, it's not right
The current situation is not just or correct.
All that hope and that pride
The aspirations and confidence are pointless.
It's a waste, it's a lie
It is all futile and deceitful.
All you want is to breath
All one desires is freedom.
Little girls should run free
Young girls should have the liberty to make their own choices.
But your corset's too tight
But the boundaries are too constricting.
And your heels are too high
And the expectations are too demanding.
This treasure you found, bury it
The treasure you came across, bury it deep within.
The only way out, marry it
The only means of escape is to accept it completely.
That shadow of doubt, carry it
The uncertainty and hesitation, carry it along.
Carry it down to your grave, oh
Bear it until the end of your life.
The world doesn't need another dream girl
The world has no use for yet another idealized woman.
You're too dumb, you're too young
You are unwise and inexperienced.
Full of heart, so naive
Though passionate, you lack practical wisdom.
You're so blind, you're so green
You are unaware and inexperienced.
You'll give up, just like me, oh
You'll eventually surrender, just as I did.
The wings are ornamental
The wings don't serve any practical purpose.
They have no intention of letting you fly
They are unwilling to allow you to grow and develop.
Don't be sentimental, some legends are born in the wrong time
Do not be swayed emotionally, great people often arise in the wrong era.
Your grave, your grave (marry it, carry it)
Keep it with you always, even in death.
The world doesn't need another dream girl
The world has no use for yet another idealized woman.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Idina Menzel, Laura Veltz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
artur wojciechowski
Lyrics:
I don't care, this is life
It's not fair, it's not right
All that hope and that pride
It's a waste, it's a lie
Oh, you want us to breath
Little girl should run free
But your corset's too tight
And your heels are too high
This treasure you found, bury it
The only way out, marry it
That shadow of doubt, carry it
Carry it down to your grave, oh
The world doesn't need another dream girl
The world doesn't need another dream girl
You're too dumb, you're too young
Full of heart, so naive
You're so blind, you're so green
You give up just like me, oh
The wings are ornamental
They have no intention of letting you fly
Don't be sentimental
Some legends are born in the wrong time
Treasure you found (bury it)
The only way out (marry it)
That shadow of doubt (carry it)
Carry it down to your grave
marry it, carry it
Carry it down to your grave (bury it)
Your grave (marry it) your grave (carry it, oh)
Bury it (doesn't need, marry it)
Marry it (another dream, carry it)
Carry it (girl)
Oh, no (the world doesn't, bury it)
No, no, no (need another dream girl, marry it, carry it)
No
Bury it (doesn't need, marry it)
Marry it (another dream, carry it)
Carry it, oh (so bury it, marry it)
(Carry it, carry it)
Carry it down to your grave
Your grave, your grave
The world doesn't need another dream girl
Kay Ford
I mean this woman has been a fairytale princess, a queen, and now a villain. Iconic.
Platinum_Noelle
I mean, Elpheba was technically a villain, so she's simply gone full circle now
sam
she wasn't really a villain in the movie...
it's just the society that pressurized her to think that way.
she herself loved to play piano but couldn't cuz her husband left her after seeing that she got admission in the best school. so, she thinks that women are born only good for household works. this song is about that.
J-Unit
Wasn’t Elsa technically all 3 over the course of the movie?
ThatGirlCC
@J-Unit 2. She wasn’t a villain, arrendale thought she was because she frozen Anna and arrendale
Мира Бланк
Який же сильный текст, та неймовірний вокал. Атмосфера потужня захоплює подих 😍
kpop rubix
Her vocals were insane in this movie Omg. She has such a powerful voice
Karen Meneses
It's amazing how a song can express so much. You may think it's an anti-feminist song but I think you're looking at the message wrong, this song shortcuts everything that many women have had to hear during their lives and I think it's about time to make it visible. Simply amazing, I can't stop watching it, Idina I love you.
Queen Dee
I love that this song is also all these women getting to express their anger and frustration over those things they have been told, over the people that did everything to dim their light and tell them they weren’t worthy, etc. It’s about time there’s a song where you can just get angry about those that told you couldn’t, wouldn’t and shouldn’t.
Rebecca
“ I love that this song is also all these women getting to express their anger and frustration over those things they have been told, over the people that did everything to dim their light and tell them they weren’t worthy”. You mean like “Don’t let them in. Don’t let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don’t feel. Don’t let them know.”